Anatoli Boukreev's Into Thin Air
In the article, Anatoli Boukreev (Responds to Krakauer), Anatoli Boukreev disputes the topic of his actions on May 10, 1996. He claims that his actions and decisions were to the best of his ability on the day of Mount Everest. Boukreev believes Krakauer’s evaluations were impaired by the high altitude, therefore he defends himself by discussing the three questions that were raised by Krakauer. One argument he made was of his experience, Boukreev has been climbing mountains for over 20 years. Within those years he has summited Everest three times, summited mountains 8,000 meters twelve times, and summited seven of the world's fourteen mountains (which were over 8,000 meters) all without supplementary oxygen. In the article “Into Thin Air”
Krakauer explains that when Boukreev decided to descend the mountain he was ditching his clients and thinking for himself. Although Boukreev states, “I explained I wanted to descend as quickly as possible to camp IV in order to warm myself and gather a supply of hot drink and oxygen in the event I might need to go back up the mountain to assist descending climbers. Scott, as had Rob Hall immediately before him, said “OK” to this plan” (Boukreev). This signifies that Boukreev had the authorization by both guides on Mount Everest to descend and watch if clients descending need assistance. Another statement to Boukreev ditching his clients was that he did so because of the attire he had worn and his decision of going without oxygen made him colder. Boukreev simply replied with, “ In the history of my career, as I have detailed it above, it has been my practice to climb without supplementary oxygen. In my experience it is safer for me, once acclimatized…” (Boukreev). What Boukreev is explaining is that with his experience the weather was not colder and his attire if anything was better, he had nothing to worry about only his clients having trouble descending and running out of oxygen. Ultimately, what Anatoli Boukreev is trying to convey through his speech is that what he did was based on experience, authorization from fellow guides, and simply looking out for his clients.
Krakauer explains that when Boukreev decided to descend the mountain he was ditching his clients and thinking for himself. Although Boukreev states, “I explained I wanted to descend as quickly as possible to camp IV in order to warm myself and gather a supply of hot drink and oxygen in the event I might need to go back up the mountain to assist descending climbers. Scott, as had Rob Hall immediately before him, said “OK” to this plan” (Boukreev). This signifies that Boukreev had the authorization by both guides on Mount Everest to descend and watch if clients descending need assistance. Another statement to Boukreev ditching his clients was that he did so because of the attire he had worn and his decision of going without oxygen made him colder. Boukreev simply replied with, “ In the history of my career, as I have detailed it above, it has been my practice to climb without supplementary oxygen. In my experience it is safer for me, once acclimatized…” (Boukreev). What Boukreev is explaining is that with his experience the weather was not colder and his attire if anything was better, he had nothing to worry about only his clients having trouble descending and running out of oxygen. Ultimately, what Anatoli Boukreev is trying to convey through his speech is that what he did was based on experience, authorization from fellow guides, and simply looking out for his clients.